Watt Whisky Girvan 29yo...

Watt Whisky Girvan 29yo (56.5%): The last sample of Watt Whisky's November 2020 releases is a 29yo single grain whisky from William Grant & Sons' Girvan distillery. I always loved well aged grain whiskies but especially these days considering that single malt Scotch prices are on a steady climb they look even more attractive. So, the expectations and excitement are pretty high... The whisky is aged in an ex-Bourbon barrel and the cask yielded only 186 bottles when bottled at cask strength.

Color: Yellow gold, white port color with a ring made of tiny teardrops around the glass reluctant to turn into legs.

Nose: Seville oranges, clementines and nutmeg. Hay dust, light honey and vanilla. After adding a few drops of water: Freshly washed sheets, jonquils and meadows. Very subtle lightly toasted oak.

Palate: Quite hot at this abv. American light whisky, rock candies and crystallized ginger. Water works great... Not that much different but calmer and way more enjoyable now. Still has that North American quality I mentioned above: Like a nicely aged Canadian whisky or American light whisky. Barrel aged maple syrup, crystalized ginger and molasses cookies. Cloves, allspice and cinnamon. Pecan pie...

Finish: Long with cinnamon, red pepper flakes and baking spices. 

Overall: Although I am aware that when it comes to single grain Scotch whisky because of the specific production practices like mashbills, usage of column stills and favoring big racked warehouses they are already comparable to their North American counterparts but this particular whisky is even more so. In a blind tasting I probably would guess it as a very old Canadian whisky... Well, what do I know? Neither layered nor very detailed but it is tasty, well aged and balanced. I have nothing to complain and if I had a full bottle I certainly would drink the hell out of this whisky.

Price: £92

87/100

A drawing of Girvan Distillery by Peter Haillay from The Schweppes Guide to Scotch...